David eat ec-bland



(No Modei.)

D. R. BORLAND.

TELEGRAPH KEY. No 380,310. Patented Apr. 3, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT Crrrcn.

DAVID RAY BORLAND, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

TELEG RAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,310, dated April 3, 1888.

Application filed February 24, 1887. Serial N0.228,787. (N0 model.) Pat nted in Canada February 17, 1837, No. 26,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID RAY BORLAND, of the city and district of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, telegraph-operator, have invented certain new and useful drawing of the switch and tension-spring, to-

gether with a section of the base of the key, showing the attachment of the tension-screw. Fig. 3 is a drawing of the lever of the automatic switch attachment, showing the roller and finger-piece by which it is operated. Fig. 4 is a drawing of the brass fastener with rubber handle, used to keep the key open when desired.

Myinvention is an attach mentto a telegraphkey, used to openthe key and close the same automatically, thus preventing the accidental leaving open of the key and consequent interference with the electric circuit and injurious detention to traffic. It is composed of the following pieces, viz:

First. Aiever (marked A in the annexed drawings, and herein referred to as the attachment-lever) the fulcrum of which consists of a screw passing through the main lever of the key on the left-hand side immediately behind and below the finger-button. To one end of this lever-that is, the end farthest from the finger-button-is attached a roller,(marked A in the drawings,) while the other end of the lever is cranked in such a manner as to permit of a piece of hard rubber or fingenpiece (marked B in the drawings) being affixed in such a position as to overhang a portion of the finger-button.

Second. A small roller (marked A in the drawings) attached by means of a steel pivot to the attachment-lever in such a manner as to play up and down the inclined side of a brass upright, (marked C in the drawings.)

Third. A hard-rubber fingerpiece (marked B in the drawings) annexed to the front end of the attachment lever, rounded upon the top, with the end so grooved as to fit the end of the finger used in pressing back the attachmentlever, and thus opening the switch.

Fourth. An upright piece of brass (marked C in the drawings) attached to the switch, tapering to the top, so that the inner side of it presents an inclined plane upon which the roller A plays up and down, thus opening and closing the key.

Fifth. A tension-spring (marked E- in the drawings) attached to an adjustable screw immediately in front of the right-hand centerpost, the other end being attached to the inner or convex side of the switch. This spring renders the movement of the switch automatic by drawing it to, and so closing it immediately the pressure of the finger is withdrawn from the finger-piece B.

Sixth. Atension or adj ustable screw(marked F in the drawings) immediately in front of the right-hand center-post, to which the tensionspring E is attached.

Seventh. A brass fastener(marked G in the drawings) with hard-rubber handle, one end of which is attached to the top of the main lever by means of a screw, and so adjusted as to swing over the attachmentlever when pushed back to open the key, and so to mechanically keep the switch open should the operator wish to leave the key open for testing or other purposes.

The automaticswitch attachment is operated by pressing the first finger against the finger-piece B, partly overhanging the fingerbutton. This lowers the farther end of the attachment-lever A, and the roller A", playing upon the inclined side of the brass upright C, presses back the switch D and opens it. It maybe held in this position, and the key thus held open as long as required. If preferred in the case of very long messages, or when required for testing, the key may be mechanically kept open by means of the fastener G. When the pressure is removed from the fingerpiece B, the tension-spring E draws in the switch D and closes it, the inclined side of the brass upright C pressing against the roller A causing that end of the attachment-lever A to rise to its normal position. The tension-spring E may at any time be adjusted by means of the tension-screw F.

ICC

The advantage and utility are that, the switch being rendered self-closing in its action, one of the principal causes of detention to railway traffic, as well as to ordinary commercial telegrams, becomes impossible. Through the acc-idental interference with the circuit byleaving open switches great detention and loss has occurred, as well as disastrous accidents. The switch closing automatically the moment the pressure is removed from the finger-piece renders this impossible. Its action is free, easy, and convenient, and by its use the best possible connection is obtained. It is adaptable to any description of key, and does not interfere in any way with the most rapid transmission.

I make no claim to the switch of the key, which is substantially as at present in use.

secure by Letters Patent, is

The automatic switch attachment composed of a lever, A, the fulcrum of which consists of a screw passing through the main lever of the key on the left-hand side immediately behind and below the finger-button,working by means of aroller, A, upon the inclined side of a brass upright, 0, attached to the switch, thus opening the switch, as herein described, and of a tension-spring, E, one end of which is attached to an adj ustablescrew, F, in front of the righthand center-post, the other being attached to the inner or convex side of the switch,by means of which the switch is automatically closed, the whole substantially as set forth.

Montreal, February 3, 1887.

DAVID RAY BORLAND.

In presence of- P. GORMAN,

J. WENDELL ANDERSON. 

